Ticket printing machine



y 1951 w. M. HENRY 2,553,709

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY HIS ATTORNEYS May 22, 1951 w. M. HENRY 2,553,709

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z J1 n 1 A INVENTOR WALTON M. HENRY BY HIS ATTORNEYS Wham May 22, 1951 w. M. HENRY TICKET PRINTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept 20, 1948 \NVENTOR WALTON M. HENRY BY HIS ATTORNEYS y 1951 v w. M. HENRY 2,553,709

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WALTON M. HENRY BY HIS ATTORNEYS y 1951 w. M. HENRY. 2,553,709

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WALTON M. HENRY BY HIS ATTORNEYS y 1951 w. M. HENRY 2,553,709

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR TON M HENRY Y HIS ATTORNEYS Wham May 22, 1951 w. M. HENRY TICKET PRINTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 20, 1948 INVENTOR WALTON M.HENRY A58 BY HIS ATTORNEYS hwwryd May 22, 1951 w. ,M. HENRY 2,553,709

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR WALTON M HENRY BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES AT NT OFFICE TICKET-PRINTING MACHINE Walton M. Henry, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Soabar Company, Philadelphia, Pa.., 2. corpo+ ration of Pennsylvania Application September 20, 1948, Serial No. 50,042

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character set forth novel means for maintaining the ticket strip in a fixed course of travel sothat the individual ticket portions thereof are positioned in proper register with a platen for printing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a, ticket printing machine as set forth em- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

Figs. 3 and. 4., respectively, are side elevational views thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the machinewith the top cover thereof removed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6'6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7' is a sectional view taken on the line 1 -1,, Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8. Fig. 1;

bodying novel cut-on means for severing ticket portions from the strip after printing thereof together with control mechanism selectively operable to render said cut-off means inoperative during the printing of a predetermined number of ticket portions or to effect operation thereof in timed relation with each printing operation to sever each individual ticket portion from the strip after it is printed.

Another object of. the invention is tov provide in a machine of the stated character novel means for automatically locking the ticket cut-off control mechanism in the selected position thereof while the machine is in operation- A further object of the invention is to provide a. machine of the type described having novel means forfeeding in one direction through the machine a strip of tickets to be printed together with means operable automatically to hold the feed means out of. the way when no tickets are being fed in said direction so that said feed means will not interfere with the feed of a strip of tickets through the machine in another direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ticket printing machine having the aforesaid features and advantages which is of compact-construction, is easy to use and is highly efficient and foolproof in operation.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a. front elevational View of: a ticket printing machine made: according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in plan of the hori' zontal ticket strip feed means and: associated mechanism the inoperative position thereof;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view takenon line ftl lll, Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detached: view in perspective show-*- ing certainstructural details of the clutch con-* trol and cut-err knife actuating mechanisms of the machine;

Fig.- 12 is a sectionar View taken on line I i-12 Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line [3-43, Fig. 5; g

Fig. 14 is afragr neiitary View in plan showing therelative positions of the hiking roller and type arm in the printing position of the latter in contrast to the other limit position of these elements shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

Fig. 15 is a sectional View baked on line 15- -45, Fig. 14-;

Fig; 16 is a view taken on line iii-l6, Fig. 8; and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of means for varying the" feed stroke of a strip or tickets vertically through the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the draw ings, the illustrated emiiodim fit of the invention comprisesabase l above w a horizontal frame plate 2 is sup orted by uprights or standards a The mechanisms and operating parts of themachine located below the plate 2 normally are concealed from view by a lateral enclosing W121i or casing 4' and those mounted? above the plate 2 normally are concealed by a; top cover section 5 which maybe hinged asindicated. at 6' to provide ready access to such parts.

According to: the present invention, a. strip of individual ticket or label. portions to be printed is adapted to be actuated; in step-by-step manner in confronting relation to; the vertically disposed plane surface of a fixed platen 1: in a direction either horizontally or vertically through the ma= chine, forexample; as indicated in Figs. 12 and 1-5 or, the drawings. As'succes'sive individualpom tions of. the strips are positioned over the platen. a type carrying member is actuated toward. the

3 ticket portions to print the desired matter thereon and between each succeeding printing operation the type carried by said member is suitably inked.

The operating parts of the machine are driven from a suitable electric motor M which drives a toothed clutch member ID through a suitable gear reduction box I I. The circuit for supplying electric current to the motor M includes a conventional snap switch I2 for starting and stopping the motor. Rotatably journaled in the plate 2 of the machine is a shaft l3 which is disposed in coaxial alignment with the axis of rotation of the clutch member 16. At its lower end the shaft l3 carries a cam disk M to the underside of which a pawl i5 is pivoted as shown at 16. As shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, one end of the pawl 15 is provided with a hook portion which is adapted for engagement with the teeth of the clutch disk 16, and a coil spring I! connected between the hook end portion of the pawl 15 and the underside of the clutch disk it) operates normally to urge the hook end of the pawl 15 into engagement with the teeth of the clutch disk [0. On the other hand, when the machine is idle the pawl i5 is held out of engagement with the clutch disk l against the bias of the spring I! by means of a rocker arm l8 which is provided with a notch or recess l9 which receives the other end of the pawl, for example, as shown in Fig. 8.

With reference to Fig. 11 of the drawings, the rocker arm I8 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 20 which is carried by a depending bracket 21 secured to the underside of the plate 2. The rocker arm [8 normally is held in the position shown with its notch l9 disposed to receive the outer end of the pawl 15, by means of coil spring 22 which is connected between the remote end of the rocker arm I6, as indicated at 23, and a fixed part of the machine. By this arrangement the arm I8 is biased in the counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 11 and a projection 24 is provided at one side of the rocker arm I8 which is adapted to engage the underside of the bracket 2| and function as a stop to predeterminedly position the rocker arm IB and its recess !9 to receive and retain the outer end of the pawl 15.

The rocker arm I 8 is actuated in the clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 11 to release the pawl l from the clutch disk H) by means of a cam plate 25 which is fixedly carried at the inner end of an axially slidable control rod 26. This rod 26 is slidably supported by the bracket 2[ and has its outer end extending through a bracket at the front of the machine and provided with a suitable knob or the like 28 by means of which the control rod 26 may be manually actuated.

By this construction it will be observed that by pulling outwardly on the knob 28 the rod 26 is moved axially outward of the machine thus causing the cam plate 25 to cooperatively engage an upstanding pin 29 on the rocker arm 16. Engagement of the pin 29 by the cam plate 25 during outward movement of the rod 26 causes the rocker arm Hi to be actuated in the clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 11 until said pin 29 engages within a notch or recess 30 in the cam plate 25 where it is retained thus holding the control rod 26 in the outermost position to which it has been actuated and holding the rocker arm [8 in the clockwise position to which it has been actuated by the cam plate 25. Upon clockwise actuation of the rocker arm I8 as described the notch or recess l9 therein is disengaged from the outer or tail end of the pawl end 15 thereby releasing the latter so that the spring 11 operates immediately to move the hook end of said pawl into engagement with one of the teeth of the clutch disk It.

Engagement of the pawl l5 with the clutch disk II] in the manner set forth establishes a driving connection from the disk it through the cam disk M to the shaft I3. Once this driving connection is established it remains unbroken until the control rod 26 is again actuated inwardly of the machine to cause the rocker arm l8 to move in the counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 11 under the influence of the spring 22 and thereby again position the rocker arm 18 so that its notch or recess I9 is disposed for engagement by the outer end of the pawl the next revolution of the disk l4 with the result that the hook end of the pawl is disengaged from the teeth of the clutch it! against the bias of the spring H. The control rod 26 normally is biased to its inward position by a spring 31 which surrounds a portion of the rod 26 and operates between a collar 32 carried thereby and a block 33 with respect to which the rod 26 is slidably mounted. In order to stop the machine immediately upon disengagement of the clutch, a friction brake device is provided which normally is spring urged into engagement with the peripheral surface of the disk 49 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Inward actuation of the control rod 26 to disengage the pawl l5 from the clutch disk 19 of course may be done at any time. In addition, provision is made in the machine of the present invention for automatically disengaging the pawl 15 from the clutch disk 16 after a predetermined number of individual tickets have been printed. With reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings, a conventional type counting device 34 is mounted in the machine and provided with a plurality of manually operable dials 35 secured respectively upon concentrically arranged shafts which project laterally outward of the machine casing as shown. These dials 35 are each numbered consecutively from 0 to 9 so that by individually adjusting each of them the counting device 34 may be set to print any desired number of tickets up to, for example, 999 in the particular printing machine illustrated.

The counting device 34 is actuated in the usual manner by effectingback and forth movement of an arm 36 which projects from said counting device. Pivotally connected to the outer end of this arm 35 is a rod 3'! which is adjustably connected to a block 38. The block 38 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 39 which is pivoted at 40 to a fixed part 4| of the machine, and pivotally connected to the upper end of the link 39 is a lever 42 which extends horizontally inward of the machine and has its inner end pivotally connected as at 43 to the outer end of a link 44 that is fixedly mounted upon a vertically extending shaft 45. The shaft 45 is rotatably journaled in the frame plate 2 and projects a predetermined distance above the latter, for example, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. An arm 46 has one end thereof fixedly mounted upon the shaft 45 and the other end of the said arm 46 carries a follower 41 which is adapted to ride in a cam groove 48 provided in the under surface of a disk 49 that is fixedly mounted upon the shaft l3 and adapted to be rotationally driven thereby from the motor M through the gear reduction box I! and the clutch mechanism previously described. The contour of the cam groove 48 is such that the arm 46 will be actuated to rotate the shaft: f and: thereby impart: reciprocable: movement-to thezlinlr-fljlever. 42 .linki3 9 sandzrodr. 3T-to causewthe lever53fi1to be .actuatedsto operate: the counting device-.- 34 once. for. each: revolution: of ithe disk 49 and th-e shaft; l3. Asstatedabove. th'ezco'unting. device 34 may besetitoxcauseiher machine to feed andprint a predetermined. nums ber ofiticketszand. the-.constructionrof the. count;-. ing; device: isaSuCh thatwhena the number; of; op-'-- erationsofithe machine-for which the counting device 34 has been set is;completed":an arm 34a of: the-'icounter deviceais actuated; Connected'to:this. arm is one'end"of: az-lever: 34'b' which has'its other: end'connected to the block .33-on the control rod: 26-; Actuation of thecountingdevice*arm:34a asi described causes .the lever 34b to beactuated: in; wardly tomovethe control IOdi. 26 inwardly against-the: force of the spring. 31: thus disen:-. gaging-the pin. 2 9' and: notch 3D. and-moving the:. camplate :25=relative;to saidipin so that-therocker arm is caused to move in the clockwise-direction" and: efiectdisengagementiof thepaWlr [5 from the-clutch disk It in themannerpreviously. dee scribed.

As-.pr,eviously set". forth,.. a strip of tickets is; adapted to be advanced. horizontally. through:

the machine in step-.by-stepmanner to position.v

theindividual ticketportions thereof succes.-.. sively confronting relation to the: fixed. platen 1=to;be-printed. To-thisend a strip A of. individ-. ual ticket. portions in: roll form is supported. uponagspider which-in turn is; rotatably supportedpat the outer end. of an arm 5| whichzis. mounted" upon the base I of. the machine". and inclines laterally outward therefrom, for" example, asshownin Figs. 1 and2 .ofthe drawings; As: shownmore clearly inaFig. 5 the ticket strip A leads; laterally fromthe: roll. on thecsp'ider: 50- and passes horizontally through; the machinebehind the'fixed platen'l'. The. arm5l is provided with .a laterally facing. bushing 5Ia.so: thatthe spideri50 may be mounted in -the vertical position shownin broken lines in Figs. 1 and 2' for rewinding a. printediticket strip-into a roll.

Stepeby-step' advance of. the strip? Ato position the individual ticket portions-.thereof successively in front of thezplaten lis accomplishedby; an elongated pusher element 52' having an outwardly. projecting. finger 53 adjacent one end thereof, which is adapted intermittently to en"- gage the. strip A and advance the same theleng'th of one individual ticket" portion ofthe strip. Withreference to. Fig. 5, thepusherel'ement. 52 is pivotallymounted intermediate its ends; asat 54, to the outer-end-of arm 55 which has its'other end pivoted, as at 56, to theframe plate: 2' of the machine.- Pivotallyconnected at 57to the arm 55 intermediate the ends of the latter is a lever 58 andto this lever 5'8 there ispivotally connected a link 59 which in turrr has one end fixedly mounted upon the aforesaid shaft 45. The pusher' 52; arm 55,- lever 58 -and" link: 59 are constructed and arranged so -tha-t' once during each revolution of thedisk" 49-the cam groove 48 actuates the arm 46- and-shaft 45 te -cause the pusher- 52 to' be reciprocate'd in the general direction of the arrows (Fig. 5) to engage. and advance through themachi-ne' one individual ticket portion of the strip A- into printing-position in front of the fixed platenl.

A convex cam portion 60" is provided uponthe opposite end portion 52 from the fl nger53'. Cooperating with this convex cam edge 60 ofthepusher 52..is acam roller GI'carri'ed-by. a bracket 52: which ispivot'al ly mounted to a fixecpare 6i oii'ftheemachineat 63: andzincludes.-. an; elongated-Ii finger portion 54." that: normallyis'. engaged" againstthexinner: side-rot the. ticket? strip A asz. it-iadvances through the: machine; for example;. aS'iShOWIIIiH'Flg. 51ofthetdrawing; The-bracket 62: and its: associated; finger" 64 normallyare.

biasedain the counterclockwise direction. with.

respect to Fig. 5 by means oi as. spring-.65. which:- iswconnectectbetween the.=.brackets.:62 .andacfixed parts of the-machine:

the. ticket. strip. A is. fed; horizontally through. the: machine. the; lower' edges; of the. vertically: disposed: ticket. portions. traverse av guide. plate. la: which: terminates adjacent; the; fixed. platen 'l andis vertically disposed: with..-

resp'ect. thereto so: that the ticket: portions; are:

properly positioned; vertically withv respect to; said platen 1-; Inorder torma-intainthe lower? edgezof'. theiticket portionszofi theistrip' in contact? with this guide hr and thereby.- eliminate. any; tendency for the. ticketstrip-: to work: vertically upward in the machine and thus improperly:

position the tickets. with: respect to the. fi'xedtI.

platen. 1,. there;is ;provided adjacent the. feed. side;- of the. latter. a resilient-roller lb. Thisroller. lb

israrrangedto contact the advancing ticket strip. A.atat-heouter side thereof and-the roller lbhas.

itsaxisof rotation inclined in the direction of the-fixed platen 1' as shownincFigs; 12and 13.101; thezd-rawings so as to exert a..continuousdown ward thrust on' the ticket strip A thereby: main;- taining it at. all times. upon .the'guide plate'laia's described; Abacking member'lc is' provided at thednner sideof the ticketstripA and servestosupport the latter'against thezroller lb.

Aszpreviouslypointediout, the bracket. and finger; 64'are biased in the counterclockwisedirection by. the spring-65 and helices-when passage of the ticket strip: A. through the machine. has. been completed or: when: theticket strip A is.:.re.-- moved" fromthe machine forany reason,. the finger 64 will be released and the spring-fifi'will actuate the bracket: 62 and-finger. 614: into; the position shownzin. Fig. 9 of therdrawings sothat' the-roller 6l'acts on'thecam edge: 60 to move the pusher element 52 in the clockwise direction sufficiently to space'itsxfinger 53taway' from the platen 1 so asnotto interferewith therpassage of a stripof tickets; for" example,. vertically. through the machine as moreparticularlyhereinafter described.

It 'willlbe obvious;.of course; that the individual ticketportions of the-strip A will vary in. length and-in order to insure thatthe pusher element 52.. may be. operated to. advance strips. of: ticket portions of difierentsize through" the machine, provision is made for' adjusting the length of strokeof the pusher element 52. as may be required. Tothis end thepivotaliconnection of the. lever-58 to-the arm- 55'may be' adjustablypositioned with respect'to the arm 55 byxproviding therein av plurality of openings: 6'! for-selective positioning of the pivot 51. In addition, the link: 59 is slotted as indicated. atBB; to provide aslid ing connection with the. lever 58 through the. medium of a. pin 69' and said link also is provided. with a plurality of openings 10 in which the pivot pin 59 may be selectively engaged. A- spring TI is associated with the pin 69 to permit relative vertical displacement of the lever 58 and link 59to permit of selective engagement of the pivot1pin59'a in the openings 10.

By theconstruction described, with the propersetting of the pivots 51 and 59a'it will lie-ob served that once duringeaeh revolution ofth'e-- azssa'roo.

disk 49 the cam groove 48 will actuate the arm 46 and in turn the link 59, lever 58 and arm 55 to reciprocate the pusher element 52 and advance.

the ticket strip A through the machine a distance equal to the length of one individual ticket portion thereof so that the ticket portions are positioned successively in front of the fixed platen l to be printed.

Printing of each individual ticket portion is accomplished by bringing one or more type pieces 'IIa into contact with the individual ticket portion of the strip A which is positioned in front of the platen 'i. The type Ha is mounted in suitable recesses I2 in the face of a type block I3 having lateral flange portions 74 which are slidably received in the undercut portions I5 provided at one end of a type carrier member It. The type carrier I6 is configuratedas shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and includes a pair of relatively spaced elongated arm portions 16a and 15b which terminate at their outer ends in a bushing 71' which is pivotally mounted to the fixed plate 2 of the machine by a bolt 18 that is threaded into the tapped opening of a boss I9 on said plate 2.

Periodic actuation of the carrier I6 about its pivot I8 to move the type Ila into contact with the ticket portion positioned in front of the platen 'I is effected in timed relation with the advance of the ticket strip A through the machine so that each individual ticket portion that is positioned in front of the platen I by the pusher element 52 will be printed with the desired characters. In the present instance, this is accomplished by providing in the arm portions Ito and 16b of the carrier IS a pin 80 on which is pivoted a block 8|. The block BI is adjustably connected to a similar block 82 by means of a dual pitch threaded bolt 83, and the block 82 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 84 between the spaced arm portions of a yoke 85 which is pivoted to an upstanding boss 85 on the fixed plate 2 of the machine by means of bolt 81.

Also pivotally mounted on the pin 86 is one end of a link 86 which is at its other end pivotally connected to a disk 49 eccentrically of the axis of rotation thereof by means of a screw 89. The link 88, yoke 85 and the adjustable connections 8|, 82 and 83, as well as the pivots 8d, 81 and 89, are constructed and relatively arranged so that each revolution of the disk 49 operates through these members to actuate the type carrier I6 about its pivot I8 in the direction of the platen I to cause the type elements Ila to be moved into printing contact with each successive individual ticket portion advanced by the pusher element 52 in the manner previously described.

' It is desirable in a machine of the present character that the type elements I Ia be properly inked between each printing contact thereof with a ticket portion of the strip A. For this purpose an inking roller 30 is provided and is adapted to be moved in rolling contact in opposite directions across the face of the type pieces Ha between successive printing operations. In the present instance this is accomplished by rotatably mounting the inking roll 98 upon the outer end of a lever SI which in turn is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 92 adjacent one end of an arm 93 that has its other end pivoted to the fixed plate 2 of the machine at 94. The lever BI is normally urged in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the arm 93 by means of a spring 95 which is operatively connected between said arm 93 and'the inner end of the lever 9|. Actuation of the arm 93 in timed relation to move the type carrier IS in order to move the inking roller back and forth across thetype pieces Ha is accomplished by means of a link 96 which is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the lower end of the pin 00 and at its other end to the said arm 93, for example, as indicated at 91 and 98, respectively. The link 96, arm 93 and lever 9i and their respective pivotal connections are constructed and relatively ar: ranged so that after each printing actuation of the carrier I6 as the latter moves into the position shown in Fig. 5, the inking roller 90 is caused to move from the position shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings across the face of the carrier I6 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and then back again to the position shown in Fig. 14. During this movement of the inking roller 90 the spring urges the same continuously in the counterclockwise direction, thus insuring rolling contact of the roller 90 in two directions over the faces of the type pieces I la.

After each individual ticket portion is printed and the pusher element 52 has operated to advance the strip to position the succeeding ticket portion for printing, it may be desirable to sever each ticket portion from the strip. In accordance with the present invention this is accomplished by providing a suitable knife 99 adjacent the ticket discharge side of the fixed platen 'I. This knife 99 is fixed on a shaft I80 which is rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end of the platen I and has fixedly mounted on the other end thereof a link IIII that has its other end in turn pivotally connected at I02 to the upper end of an actuator rod I03. At its lower end the rod I03 is pivotally connected as indicated at I04 to the one corner of a triangular plate I05 which in turn is pivotally mounted at I06 to a boss I Ill on the dome plate 2. Pivotally connected to the plate I05 at the third corner thereof, for example, as indicated at I09, is the outer end of a lever I I0 which has its inner end pivotally connected at I I I to the relatively longer arm I I2 of a bell crank lever H3. The shorter arm H4 of the bellcrank H3 carries a follower H5 at its free end which is adapted to engage a cam groove H6 formed in the upper face of the disk I4 on the lower end of the driven shaft I3 of the machine.

At the junction of its arms H2 and H4 the bellcrank lever H3 is pivotally mounted upon a stud III which is supported for vertical sliding movement in the fixed plate 2 of the machine. On the lower end of this stud I II and below the, bellcrank H3 there are secured relatively spaced collars H8 which, in conjunction with a reduced diameter portion of the stud II'I, provide an annular groove or recess for the reception of a pin H9 which is carried by a bellcrank I20 and adapted to be actuated vertically with respect to the machine to thereby raise and lower the stud I I1 and bellcrank I [3 in order to engage and disengage the follower H5 with respect to the cam groove I I6. The bellcrank I20 is pivotally mounted as indicated at I2I to a bracket I22 that is secured to the underside of the plate 2 of the machine, for example, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 10 of the drawings.

Actuation of the bellcrank I20 about its pivot I2I to engage and disengage the follower H5 with the cam groove H6 as described, is accomplished in the present instance by a link I23 which has one of its ends pivotally connected by a pin I24 to the other arm of the bellcrank I20 and has its other end pivotally connected as indicated at I25 to a radial arm I26 which is fixed- 1y mounted upon the inner end of a cut-off knife control shaft I21. The shaft I2! is rotatably supported in a bushing I28 provided at the lower end of the bracket 21 which depends from the underside of the fixed plate 2' and extends forwardly through the front of the machine as shown in the drawings, being' provided with a suitable operating Handle I29.

From the constructiondescribed it will be observed that upon the actuation of the handle I29 and shaft I21 in the clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 11 of the drawings, the corresponding movement isimparted to the radial arm I26 which operates through the link I23 to rotate the bellcrank I29 in the clockwise direction about its pivot I2I thus moving the pin H9 downwardly. Downward movement of the pin I I9 carries with it the stud III and bellcra'nk lever II3 with the result that the follower H5 is caused to engage in the cam groove H6 provided in the disk I4. The cam groove H6 is configurated and contoured so that once during each revolution of the disk I4 the bellcrank lever II3 will be oscillated about the stud III to cause reci rocatory movement of the lever I I9 and rod I03 and actuate the knife 99 in the counterclockwise direction from its inoperative position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 to the solid line position to sever the projecting last printed ticket portion from the strip A.

As previously stated it may be desired to sever the individual ticket portions successively from the strip A as they are printed and moved out of printing position. Conversely, it may be desired not to sever the tickets as they are printed but to leave the printed tickets in strip form until a predetermined number have been printed as determined by the settings of the dials 35 of the counting device 34. In the present invention, this selective operation of the cutting knife 99 is accomplished by providing on the shaft I 21 latch member I30 having concave portions I3I and I32, respectively, disposed for cooperative engagement with a collar I33 on the clutch control rod 26 when the latter is pulled out by the knob 28 to effect engagement of the pawl I5 with the clutch disk III in the manner previously described.

Thus, if it is desired to sever the individual ticket portions from the strip A as they are printed, the handle I29 on the shaft I2! is actuated in the clockwise direction with respect to- Fig. 11 to engage the follower H5 and the cam groove I I6 prior to pulling out the clutch control rod 26. After engagement of the follower II 5 with the cam groove H9, the control rod 29 is pulled outwardly thus engaging the collar I33- thereon with the arcuate recess I3I of the latch member I39 to lock the knife control mechanism in the position to which actuated during the period that the clutch remains in engagement so that the knife 99 will operate once each revolution of the disk I4 to sever the successive printe tickets from the strip A. w

On the other hand, if it is not desired to sever the individual ticket portions as they are printed, the knife control handle 99 and its associated mechanism may be allowed to remain in the relative position as shown in the drawing. In this position, when the clutch control rod 29 is pulled out as described, the collar I33 will be engaged with the arcuate recess I32 of the latch member I30 to lock the mechanism in position with the follower H5 out of engagement with the cam groove H6 so that the knife- 99 remains inoperative.

As previously stated, in addition to the hori- 'zontal feed ticket strip A, provision is made the machine of the present invention for feeding a strip of tickets vertically upward through the machine so that the individual ticket portions of the strip are disposed successively in front of the fixed platen I to be printed by the type Ila on the carrier It precisely in the manner previously described. In the present machine, this is accomplished by providing mechanism for feeding a ticket strip B upwardly through the machine in the relation shown, for example, in Figs. 6 and 15', in timed relation to reciprocation of the type carrier I6. I

With reference to Figs. 6, 8 and 15 of the drawings', the ticket strip B is fed step-by-step upwardly over the fixed platen I by means of a pusher plate I3'4 which is reciprocate'd in a generally vertical direction, first downwardly out of engagement with the' ticket strip B, and then upwardly in engagement with the ticket strip B so as to carry the latter upwardly with it. A back-'- ing plate I35 is provided over which the ticket strip B travels and the strip normally is maintained against the backing plate I35 by means of a resilient finger or spring I 36, the tension or pressure of which may he varied by adjustment of nuts I3I on the screw I38;

The pusher plate I34 is pivotally mounted upon a pin I39 carried at the forward upwardly projected end portion I40 of a generally J-shaped lever MI and normally is biased to engage the ticket strip B by a spring I42 which is wound around the pin- I39 and has its opposite end portions disposed cooperatively to engage the pusher plate I34 and end portion I49 of the lever I'4I for example, as shown in Fig. 12' of the drawing. The lever I4'I has its inner end fixedly se-" i cured, as indicatedat I43, upon one end of a shaft I44 which is rotatably supported in depending brackets I 45 and I 46 at the underside of the fixed frame plate 2'. The other end of the shaft I44 hasfixedthereon one end of a link I4I which has its other end pivotally connected to the lower endof avertical link I48.- The link I48 is arranged for movement vertically through a slot I49 in the frame plate 2 and carried at the upper end thereof is a roller I50- which is adapted toengagea cam surface I5I provided at the underside of the cam disk 49;

The construction and arrangement of the lever MI and link I41 are such that upon vertical actuation of the link I48 effected by the cam I5I, the said lever I4I will be actuated once during each revolution of the cam' disk 49 in the counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 6 to cause the pusher plate I34 to move the ticket strip B upwardly a distance equal to the length of an individual ticket portion of the strip. In its mid-portion the lever I-4I is adapted to rest upon a roller I52 which is-rotatably carried at the inner end of a lever I53.- Thisroller I52 acts as arest or stop to fix the lower limit of reciprocation of the pusher plate I34, and it will be observed thatby varying the position of the roller I52 verti-' cally, with respect to Fig. 6, the length of the stroke of the pusher plate I34 may be varied as required to advance individual ticket portions of different length upwardly through the machine. In the presentinstance, adjustment of the position of the roller I52 for the purpose described is accomplished by slidably and pivotally mounting the lever I53 through the medium of a pin and slotconnection I54 whereby a laterally projecting lug I55 on the lever I53 may be selectively engaged with any one of a plurality of vertically spaced notches or recesses i56 arranged at one side of a slot IS! in a bracket H18 which is adjustably mounted on the boss I01, adjustment of said bracket being provided to permit variation in the vertical positioning of the notches I 56 therein.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the present invention provides a ticket printing machine having an inking roll which is moved in opposite directions over the type pieces between each successive printing contact thereof with the individual ticket portions of a strip. The invention also provides a machine having novel means for maintaining the ticket strip in a fixed course of travel so that the individual ticket portions thereof are positioned in proper register with a platen for printing. Furthermore, the present invention provides a ticket printing machine embodying novel cutoif mechanism which may be selectively controlled to render the same inoperative during operation of the machine or to render it operative to sever each individual ticket portion from the strip after it is printed. In addition, the present invention provides a ticket printing machine having the aforesaid features and advantages which is of compact construction, is easy to use and is highly efficient and foolproof in operation.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiment, and changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a support for said tickets and mechanism for advancing said strip step-by-step through the machine to position said individual ticket portions successively in confronting relation to said support, knife means pivotally mounted adjacent said support operable to sever the strip, and actuating means for said knife operative in timed relation to said strip advancing mechanism to actuate the knife after each operation of said strip advancing mechanism and sever the last printed ticket portion from the strip, control means selectively operable to render said knife inoperative to sever successively printed tickets from said strip, drive means for said strip advancing mechanism and several actuating means including a clutch operable to effect starting and stopping of the machine, other control means operable to engage and disengage said clutch, and latch means positionable by said knife control means for engagement by an element on said clutch control means in the clutch engaging position thereof to lock the knife control means in a preselected position while the clutch is engaged and the machine in operation.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clutch control means comprises a rod member axially shiftable between clutch engaged and disengaged positions and the knife control means comprises a rotationally shiftable rod member.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch means is carried by the knife control means and is provided with recessed portions and the element on the clutch control means comprises a collar arranged in the clutch engaged position of the clutch control means to engage one of the recesses in said latch means to lock the knife control means in position.

- 4. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a support for said tickets and mechanism for advancing said strip stepy-step through the machine to position said ticket portions successively in confronting relation to said support, knife means pivotally mounted adjacent said support operable to sever the strip, actuating means for said knife operative in timed relation to said strip advancing mechanism to actuate the knife after each operation of said strip advancing mechanism and sever the last printed ticket portion from the strip, control means selectively operable to render said knife inoperative to sever successively printed tickets from said strip, drive means for said strip advancing mechanism and several actuating means including a clutch operable to effect starting and stopping of the machine, other control means operable to engage and disengage said clutch, and latch means positionable by said knife control means for engagement by an element on said clutch control means in the clutch engaging position thereof to lock the knife control means in a preselected position while the clutch is engaged and the machine in operation,

5. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a support for said tickets and mechanism for advancing said strip step-by-step through the machine to position said ticket portions successively in confronting relation to said support, a type carrier pivotally mounted in said machine and movable toward and away from the support to convey type into printing contact with a ticket portion, knife means pivotally mounted adjacent said support operable to sever the strip, actuating means for said knife operative in timed relation to said strip advancing mechanism to actuate the knife after each operation of said strip advancing mechanism and sever the last printLd ticket portion from the strip, control means selectively operable to render said knife inoperative to sever successively printed tickets from said strip, drive means for said strip advancing mechanism and several actuating means including a clutch operable to effect starting and stopping of the machine, and latch means on said knife control means positionable thereby for engagement by an element on said clutch control means in the clutch engaging position thereof to lock the knife control means in a preselected position while the clutch is engaged and the machine in operation.

6. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a platen having a surface for supporting said tickets in printing position, mechanism for advancing a first strip of tickets through the machine in one direction with respect to said platen and including a reciprocable pusher element arranged during movement thereof in one direction to engage and advance said strip, control means engaged by said first strip, mechanism for advancing a second strip of tickets through the machine in another direction with respect to said platen, drive means for said strip advancin mechanisms, and means acting on said control means in opposition to said first strip operable upon removal of the first strip from engagement with said control means to actuate the latter and in turn position the pusher element away from the platen so as not to interfere with advancement of the second ticket strip through the machine.

7. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a platen having a surface for supporting said tickets in printing position, mechanism for advancing a first strip of disposed tickets hori Zontally through the machine with respect to said platen and including a reciprcca'ole pusher element arranged during movement thereof in one direction to engage and advance said strip, control means engaged by said first strip, a roller mounted adjacent said platen for rotation about an axis inclined in the direction of the platen at an angle to the perpendicular and arranged to engage said strip and exert a continuous downward thrust thereon to prevent the same from riding vertically upward relative to the platen, mechanism for advancing a second strip of tickets through the machine in another direction with respect to said platen, and means acting on said control means in opposition to said first strip and operable upon removal of the first strip from engagement with said control means to actuate the latter and in turn position the pusher element away from the platen so as not to interfere with advancement of the second ticket strip through the machine.

8. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a platen having a surface for supporting said tickets in printing position, mechanism for advancing a first strip of tickets horizontally through the machine with respect to said platen and including a reciprocable pusher element arranged during movement thereof in one direction to engage and advance said strip, spring means biasing said element normally to engage said strip, control means engaged by said first strip, mechanism for advancing a second strip of tickets through the machine in another direction with respect to said platen, drive means for said strip advancing mechanisms, and other spring means acting on said control means in opposition to said first strip and the first mentioned spring means, said other spring means being operable upon removal of the first strip from engagement with said control means to actuate the latter and in turn position the pusher element away from the platen so as not to interfere with advancement of the second ticket strip through the machine.

9. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a platen having a surface for supporting said tickets in printing position, mechanism for advancing a first strip of tickets horizontally through the machine with respect to said platen and including a reciprocable pusher element arranged during movement thereof in one direction to engage and advance said strip, spring means biasing said element normally to engage said strip, control means engaged by said first strip, a roller mounted adjacent said platen for rotation about an axis inclined in the direction of the platen at an angle to the perpendicular and arranged to engage said strip and exert a continuous downward thrust thereon to prevent the same from riding vertically upward relative to the platen, mechanism for advancing a second strip of tickets through the machine in another direction with respect to said platen, drive means for said strip advancing mechanisms, and other spring means acting on said control means in opposition to said first strip and the first mentioned spring means, said other spring means being operable upon removal of the first strip from engagement with said control means to actuate the latter and in turn position the pusher element away from the platen so as not to interfere with advancement of the second ticket strip through the machine.

10. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a platen having a surface for supporting said tickets in printing position, mechanism for advancing a strip of tickets through the machine in one direction with respect to said platen and including a reciprocable pusher element arranged during movement thereof in one direction to engage and advance said strip, control means engaged by said strip, and means acting on said control means in opposition to said strip operable upon removal of the strip from engagement with said control means to actuate the latter and in turn position the pusher element away from the platen.

11. In a machine for printing a succession of individual ticket portions in strip form including a platen having a surface for supporting said tickets in printing position, mechanism for advancng a strip of tickets through the machine in one direction with respect to said platen and including a reciprocable pusher element arranged durin movement thereof in one direction to engage and advance said strip, spring means biasing said element normally to engage said strip, control means engaged by said strip, and other spring means acting on said control means in opposition to said first strip and the first mentioned spring means, said other spring means being operable upon removal of the strip from engagement With said control means to actuate the latter and in turn position the pusher element away from the platen.

WALTON M. HENRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,111,020 Hoefer Sept. 22, 1914 1,526,979 Henry Feb. 17, 1925 1,655,999 Henry Jan. 10, 1928 1,814,923 Henry July 14, 1931 1,879,233 Henry Sept. 27, 1932 1,889,250 Kohnle Nov. 29, 1932 2,012,130 Kellogg Aug. 20, 1935 2,103,654 Weimont et al. Dec. 28, 1937 2,104,647 Henry Jan. 4, 1938 2,313,347 Kohnle Mar. 9, 1943 2,328,934 Turner 1 Sept. 7, 1943 

